INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to evaluate whether introducing the condensed distillers solubles Protiwanze® (PW) at different concentrations in dairy cows diet induces changes in milk ... [more ▼]

INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to evaluate whether introducing the condensed distillers solubles Protiwanze® (PW) at different concentrations in dairy cows diet induces changes in milk production. MATERIAL AND METHODS Three herds (72 Holstein and 25 Brown Swiss, DIM = 101 ± 57; daily milk production = 34.90 ± 8.40 L) received successively two RTM differing in PW content for 4 weeks, including a 7-day transition: 0% and 10% on a dry matter basis for Herd 1 and 10% and 15% for Herd 2 and 3. Both concentrations were distributed alternatively and repeated twice, each cow being its own control. Rations were formulated to meet energy and nitrogen requirements. During each testing period, animals were scored (Body Condition, Rumen Fill, Fecal Consistency, Undigested Fraction according to Zaaier (2001)) and their milk production and composition were measured by the Dairy Herd Improvement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Increasing the level of PW did not significantly change milk production in any Herd: Values were for Herd 1 at PW0%: 33.08 ± 0.76 L, at 10%: 31.66 ± 0.68 L, for Herd 2 at PW10%: 32.85 ± 0.93 L and at 15%: 32.37 ± 0.89, for Herd 3 at PW10%: 28.71 ± 1.21 L and at 15%: 31.80 ± 1.16. In Herd 1, milk urea decreased from 243.80 ± 4.55 mg/L for PW0% to 218.05 ± 4.03 mg/L for PW10%, (p<0.01), while fat percentage increased from 3.38% ± 0.09 (PW0%) to 3.77% ± 0.08 (PW10%) (p<0.01). Concerning scores, unconclusive changes were observed. Although increasing level of PW in dairy cows diet did not change milk production or composition, it is profitable since PW is 30-40% cheaper than other protein supplements like soya and canola meals. Moreover, it allowed to lower milk cost price by 1,5 eurocent per liter, when used at higher concentration. [less ▲]

Rat uterus maintained in situ was used as a bioassay of kinins possibly released in vivo by hyperglycaemia or insulin. Intravenous injections of bradykinin induced contractions of rat uterus which were ... [more ▼]

Rat uterus maintained in situ was used as a bioassay of kinins possibly released in vivo by hyperglycaemia or insulin. Intravenous injections of bradykinin induced contractions of rat uterus which were suppressed by HOE 140, a bradykinin B-2 receptor antagonist. Des-Arg(9)-bradykinin, a kinin B-1 receptor agonist, did not elicit any response. After propranolol, the effects of bradykinin were enhanced and dose-dependent. This potentiation did not appear in adrenalectomized rats. Captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, largely increased the effects of bradykinin. In animals pretreated with propranolol, captopril and atosiban, an oxytocin antagonist, intravenous infusion of glucose induced hyperglycaemia and after a delay increased the uterine contractile activity. This contractile effect of glucose was abolished by HOE 140. Infusion of insulin with glucose induced contractions of the uterus. These responses did not appear or were suppressed by HOE 140 or by soya bean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), a plasma kallikrein inhibitor. These results are direct evidence that insulin induces a release of kinins. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

In this paper, we set out to determine whether the link between deliberation and transformation (or between process and outcome) is as straightforward as deliberative democracy assumes. More specifically ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we set out to determine whether the link between deliberation and transformation (or between process and outcome) is as straightforward as deliberative democracy assumes. More specifically, our research question is threefold: (1) whether a high quality of deliberation does indeed lead to changes in attitudes, (2) whether a high quality of deliberation can lead to a higher appreciation of the members of the outgroup, and above all (3) whether group composition matters. We thus want to push the research on the transformative effects a little further, into political psychology grounds, and see whether these effects can also take place in deliberation between diametrically opposed groups. Our aim is thus not only to test the link between deliberation and transformation, but also to see whether deliberation can have its transformative effects in high conflict settings, i.e. in more real-life settings. Based on findings from two deliberative experiments organized in deeply divided Belgium, we argue that the quality of deliberation (and the perceived quality of deliberation) are only weakly linked to changes in outgroup attitudes, and that the main variable explaining shifts towards more positive outgroup feelings is actually the group composition. Participants who are confronted with the other side are less likely to hold more negative views of the outgroup after the deliberation. [less ▲]

In 385 patients with acute myocardial infarction, lactate dehydrogenase (LD; EC 1.1.1.27) isoenzymes were determined electrophoretically 24, 48, and 72 h after admission. At those times, LD-1/LD-2 ratios exceeding 1 were recorded in 78.9, 88.8, and 92.2% of the cases, respectively. LD-1 ranged from 181 to 2674 U/L, or 21.9 to 66.1% of the total activity. On the first day of hospitalization, 27.3% of the patients demonstrated abnormal LD-5 (greater than 6% of total LD); this finding dropped to 20.5% and 17.4% in the two following days. Early increases in LD-5 were most frequently observed in patients associating inferior infarcts with posterior or lateral extension and having a previous history of myocardial infarction. On day 1, LD-5 was significantly increased in early deceased patients as compared to long-term survivors (9.7% vs 4.9% of total LD, p less than 0.01). LD-5 definitely contributes to the prognostic efficiency of total LD in acute myocardial infarction, but does not replace it as a risk predictor. This study confirms the superiority of total LD over the isoenzyme measurements to achieve short-term prognostication [less ▲]

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) and passive recovery (PR) were compared in ten healthy men after a provocation exercise inducing delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS). The exercise consisted of 3 sets of 30 maximal eccentric contractions performed by the knee flexor muscles of the dominant leg on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60 degrees/s angular velocity. There was an interval of 8 weeks between both bouts and the order of the recovery mode (ES or PR) was block-randomly assigned. ES recovery consisted of a 25-min continuous and non-tetanic (5 Hz) stimulation of the hamstring muscles. Concentric and eccentric hamstrings peak torques were evaluated before and immediately after the provocation exercise, after the recovery period, as well as 24 h (d1), 48 h (d2), 72 h (0) and 168 h (0) after the bout. Subjective perception of muscle soreness (VAS, 0-10 a.u.) was evaluated before exercise and at d1, d2, 0 and d7. To assess the CK activity, five blood samples were drawn before exercise and at d1, d2, d3 and d7. For both recovery modes, the greatest reductions in isokinefic muscle performances were measured on d2 (66.3 +/- 24.1 % of initial values (ES) vs. 57.4 +/- 26.5% (PR) for the concentric mode and 55.6 +/- 16% (ES) vs. 53.1 +/- 19.3% (PR) for the eccentric mode). d2 also corresponded to the highest painful sensations (5.4 +/- 2.14 a.u. (ES) vs. 6.15 +/- 2.55 a.u. (PR)). Peak activities of CK were reached on d3 (47507 +/- 19973 IU/l (ES) vs. 75887 41962 IU/l (PR)). Serum CK was lower with ES than PR at 0 (p <= 0.05) but all other parameters changed in a manner that was not statistically different between the two recovery protocols (p > 0.05). This strong trend could be explained by an electro-induced hyperperfusion that may efficiently wash out the muscle from the cellular debris resulting from the initial injury, and hence diminish the inflammatory response and the delayed amplification of tissue damages. [less ▲]

Objective: To evaluate the ovarian response to stimulation conducted for IVF treatment in women who have undergone conservative surgery for endometriomas. Design: Retrospective study with prospective ... [more ▼]

Objective: To evaluate the ovarian response to stimulation conducted for IVF treatment in women who have undergone conservative surgery for endometriomas. Design: Retrospective study with prospective selection of participants and controls. Setting: University infertility clinic. Patient(s): A series of 374 women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). The study group consisted of 85 patients with ovarian endometriomas who had undergone laparoscopic surgery in an attempt to become pregnant, but had failed within a year of surgery. The control group consisted of 289 patients with tubal factor infertility. Intervention(s): IVF-embryo transfer procedures. Main Outcome Measure(s): Stimulation parameters, fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy rates were analyzed in both groups. Result(s): There was no significant difference between the two groups in stimulation parameters or IVF outcome. Conclusion(s): A total of 820 cycles were analyzed. A similar IVF-ET outcome was observed in patients with endometriosis after ablation of endometriomas compared to women with tubal factors. In conclusion, endometrioma surgery by internal wall vaporization does not impair IVF outcome. The clinical pregnancy rate was respectively 37.4% and 34.6% in the endometriosis group and the control group. [less ▲]